Source: http://www.un.int/usa/07_014.htm  http://www.un.int/usa/07_018.htm
Date: February 7, 2007

USUN PRESS RELEASE #  018(07)   
February 6, 2007 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
Remarks by Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, Acting U.S. Permanent Representative, on the Situation in the Middle East, at the Security Council stakeout, February 6, 2007

Reporter: I was wondering if you might help -- some see a certain
amount of focus right now on the process regarding the establishment 
of the tribunal for Lebanon. At this moment, do you think it's time, 
as some people are suggesting, and asking for the Security Council to 
take it into their hands? Or are you still waiting for the Lebanese 
to somehow make an agreement, even though they can't, within their own 
process? Where are we in this right now? 

Ambassador Wolff: Well, the ideal would be for the Lebanese to do this 
through their constitutional processes, as we've requested and as I 
think the government of Lebanon would like to do. The situation in 
Lebanon is, as you know, is delicate, so we hope that they'll be able 
to do so in the shortest possible time. 

Short of the ideal -- 

Ambassador Wolff: Excuse -- 

Reporter: Short of the ideal if the ideal is not there? I mean, is 
it -- there are suggestions from Lebanon that the Security Council 
should pass a Chapter 7 resolution. Does the U.S. favor such a -- 

Ambassador Wolff: There's lots of suggestions on this. We very much 
want to see this tribunal established. It's a natural follow-on to 
the independent investigative commission, which has been supported and 
endorsed by the council and by the elected government of Lebanon. As 
I mentioned, the tribunal is a natural follow-on, and we would like to 
see it established as soon as possible. 

Reporter: Just one follow-up, if I may, with regard to -- (it's 
getting hard ?) to tell the different risks if you do, if you don't, 
but some are suggesting that for lack of resolution of this issue -- 
which doesn't seem to be possible within the context of Lebanon right 
now, which is why some are suggesting the council take it on -- the 
lack of resolution on this issue, this is going to become a flashpoint 
that could really lead to something very serious. I mean, I'm 
wondering to what degree the Security Council sees a risk in delaying 
this process and waiting longer for somehow the Lebanese process to 
work its way through? 

Ambassador Wolff: Well, we're still in an investigative stage. 
Obviously the tribunal process is a follow-on to the investigation to 
undertake the judicial proceedings from any indictments or other 
findings from the investigative commission. 

So let's put this in the proper sequence. We want to see the 
tribunal established. It's sort of silly to have an investigative 
commission that does its work and that has findings to transmit for 
potential prosecution and then not have a tribunal in place to deal 
with it. So it's important to follow on. 

On the timing question, we're following it closely. We want to 
see the Lebanese government to do whatever it can to establish this 
tribunal according to its constitutional processes, and we'll cross
the next bridge if we have to when it's necessary.

Reporter: Can I ask you a quick question on Somalia? On Somalia,
does the -- does the U.S. feel that the transitional federal
government should reach out to moderate elements of the Islamic Courts
or not?

Ambassador Wolff: Yes, we do believe that there is a need for an
inclusive political process that incorporates the moderate elements of
the Islamic Courts movement.